Fluid-flow-indicating mechanism.



E. F. FISHER.

FLUID FLOW INDICATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. i914.

Ll, Peeeneed Feb. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. F. FISHER. FLUID FLOW NDICATNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED lULY H, 1914.

l ,2l 5., l @5., Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

K/j W /N VEN TOR.

NEW Yoan.

rnUrnrLow-innrcarrne Mncnanrsia.

-dpeelcation of Letters Patent.

Patented rei. e, iai a.

Application filed July 11, i914. Serial No. 350,447.

To all whom t may concern Be it; known that I, ERNEST F. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsbur h, in the county of Allegheny and State org Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in Fluid-Flow-Indicating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid flow indicating mechanisms or meters and has for an object to produce an .improved mechanism of this character, which is of simple construction and is effective and accurate in operation.

This and other objects I obtain by means of mechanisms embodying the features herein described and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof. l

In the drawings Figure l is a transverse sectional view of an indicating mechanism embodying my invention, shown in connection with a fragmental sectional view of a pipe or passage through which the fluid, the velocity of which is to be ascertained, is

' adapted to pass.

f Fi 2 is a front elevation of the'indicating` evice shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a modified form of my invention shown in connection with. a sectional view of a fluid delivery pipe or passage, portions of the 4mechanism are shown in section for 4convenience of illustration.

It is an established principle that vibrations will be set up .in fluid flowing past a stationary object and that the periodicity of the vibrations will be proportional to the velocity of flow of the fluid. It is also a known fact that the vibrations set up in the fluid will occasion vibrations in the walls of the fluid passage, and in the object which occasions the vibrations in the fluid by extending across its path of flow.4 It is also a known fact that the vibrations be absolutely independent of the natural periodicity of the object to which they arer transmitted.'

lIn carrying out my invention I em loy means for ascertaining the periodicity o the vibrations so occasioned in -a stationary ob- .by any suitable so set up may ject for the purpose of locity of the fluid occasioning the vibrations.

I Find that it is desirable, although I do not know that it is essential, to employ an obJect, for occasi'oning the vibrations in the fluid and for transmitting these vibrations to an indicating apparatus, which has a natural periodicity materially di ferent from the period of the vibrations set up in the moving fluid. Under such conditions, no sympathetic vibrations will be set up in the object so employed, but it will act merely as a. transmitter and not as an independent vibrator.

The apparatus illustrated broadly consists of means, located in a fluid passage or pipe for setting up vibrations in the fluid traversing the pipe, and means for indicating the periodicity of the vibrations so set up.

In Fig. 1 a flat member, such for example as a reed 'or metal .strip 4, is located in a fluid pipe or passage 5 and is mounted on a rod 6, which projects out of the pipe or passage through a plug 7. As illustrated, the rod is notched at its inner end and the reed is locked in the notch and secured in place a pin or rivet 8, employed to clamp the separate portions of the end of the rod in gripping engagement-with the reed so that the reed is rigidly secured to the rod and is not capable of independent motion relatively to it.

"0n the outer end of the rod I secure suitable mea-ns for indicating the periodicity of the vibrations set up in the fluid and transmitted from the fluid to the rod through the agency of the reed. Any suitable means for accomplishing this may be employed, such for example as an ordinary tachometer. The tachometer illustrated in the drawings consists of a metal disk" 9 having a series of sensitive members 10 located around its circumference. Each sensitive member 10 is in the nature of a tuning fork ofr a di'erent tone or periodicity from each of the others, and each is provided at its free end with a brightly colored or clearly discernible piece 11, whichwill not materially affect the vibration of the member on which it is mounted,

ascertaining the vemeans, such for-example, as

and lwill aid in indicating the vibrations ,n

within a casing The disk 9 and on it are inclose 12, which is preferably provided with a transparent face 13 and which may be held in place by means of a sleeve 14 secured to a plug 7 and'surroundingthe red of its' mounting member. the members mounted 6. The reed -4 will occasion vibrations inthe iuid passing it" and vibrations will consequently be transmitted through the rod 6 lmembers 10 are s'o gra the disk 9 can be readily ascertained and site to each member 10 which will imparted to the i ber 17, while connected to the i vibrations set up' consequently the velocity of the Huid occasioning the vibrations in the rod 6 can be readily computed. In fact, if desired, the tachometer may be providedwith a dial graduated soas to, indicate the velocity of flow of the iuid traversing the pipe or passage 5. This may be-accomplished 'by so grading the members 10 that each will be set into maximum vibration by a definite ve-` locity and a number or character maybe set oppoindicate the velocity in feet per second, or velocity inany unit of lineal measurement for any unit of time. i

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modicatioii of my invention in w ch I employ electrical means for indicating the periodicity of the in the Huid passing a cylindrical member located in the iuid pas- Sage. i

AsA in Fig.'1, fluid is past a cylindrical plug througlil a passage 5, 16, w 'ch projects-into the passage an across, or partially across the path of ilow Y of the Huid..

cludes within its interior what may be The'plu'g 16 is hollow and intermed a microphone which consists of .an

electrical conductor 127 eXtending-longitudi--- nally of the plug and looselymounted so that it can move in responsel tovibrations plug and thereby va the resistance in, or alternatelymake and reak an electrical circuit 18. One lead 19 of the circuit is electrically connected to the meni the other lead 21 is electrically plug which incloses the member 17. The circuit includesany suitable source of current, such as'a battery 22 a frequency indicator 23 of any suitable and a transformer 24.

The operation of the apparatus'is' as follows: Fluid passing the cylindrical plug 16 of flow of fluid through the passage 5 the' tachometer in any adapted to ow the passage.

liows,

.. prising will be set into vibration with a periodicity dependent upon its vel ocity. These vibrations will be communicated to the plug and will consequently cause the carbon rod 17 to vibrate and thereby make and break elec i 7g' circuit will pulsate oi' be intermittent, with 75 the periods of flow corresponding to the periodicity of the vibrationsimparted to the carbon rod 17. The frequency of the current pulsations in the circuit will be indicated by the frequency indicator and'consequently 30 the indicator will indicate the periodicity of the vibrations set up in the iuid traversing the pi e5. If desired, the indicator may be cali rated so as to indicate velocity of liow of the fluid through passage 5 since the frequency of the-current will vary in direct reortion to the velocity of liow of the It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various means may be employed for setting up the vibrations in the flowing iuid and that vibration may be transmitted to' that under certain conditions the tachometer may be mounted directly on the Huid pipe and for the purpose of indicating the velocity of flow through the pipe, by indicating the periodicity of the vibrations transmitted to the pipe.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that while I have described and illustrated two embodiments of'my inventions, that various inodifications, arrange-7 ments, substitutions and 'additions may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth by the appended clainis.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaimisa" l 1. A Huid iow indicating device, comprising a vibration tachometer secured to the walls of the passage, 'iiowing, for indicating brations occasioned/by what the frequency of vithe traversing.

2. In a {iow meter, the combination with a conduit through .which a fluid to be metered of a device located in the conduit and responsive ing nected to ysaid device.

3. A fluid How vindicating device, coma member having a fluid liow pas-- to vibrations set up by the owsagetherethrough, a sensitive member lotions, and

i cated in said passage to respond to vibrations set up by the passing fluid, a device for indicating theamplitude of such vibrameans for transmitting the vibrations to the indicating device.

4. A iiuid iow indicating device, `comsuitable manner, and

through which iiuid i s iuid, and Aanfindicating mechanism con- 15 mie-,ies i l :si:

4 4( prising a member having a Huid How pas- In testimony whereof, have hereunto sage therethrough, `a. sensitive member 1o`- subscribed my name this 9th day of July, 10 cated in said passage to respond to vibra.-A 1914. tions set up by the passing fluid, a device 5 for indicating the amplitude of such vibm- ERNEST F@ FISHER' tions, and means for transmitting the Vibra- Witnesses: s tions to the indicating device, mcluding E. W. MCCALL STER,

means for amplifying the vibrations. A B. M. FERo. 

